Cost of freedom

For my thesis work, I need a crash course on HCI (Human-Computer Interface), since I need to do some interface design. Having shaken my head at some of the poorly designed interface that I've encountered in the hospital, I figure the easiest way to do this is to take a course. Thus, I sat in on the first two lectures of this course. (Course website, if you're interested in the readings, is here)

It was interesting. Although the course touches a bit on HCI, it is not the focus. Rather, the focus is on the concept of Open Source code. Free code, if you will. Free as in freedom, not as in no cost (the quote they use is "Free as in free speech, not free beer"). As an user of various open-source software (OSS), such as...

• Mozilla Firefox - Internet browser
• Google Chrome - Yes, I have two browsers installed. 3, if you count IE8.
• Mozilla Thunderbird - Email client. Not so much anymore, too much CCF reply-all spam -_-
• Pidgin - Multi-purpose chat client (MSN Live was too much)
• Launchy - Command-line launch prompt (if you're lazy, you'd like this)
• GIMP - Graphics editor
• Audacity - Audio editor
• Notepad2 - Notepad replacement
• 7zip - Compression client
• Cygwin - UNIX emulator. Sort of. I "ls" more than "dir". (installed for school needs)
• Eclipse - Java IDE (okay, this is for work, but I use it anyway =P)
• TexnicCenter - LaTeX IDE (okay, this is also for work)

Haha. Listing and linking all the OSS was probably unnecessary. Anyways. The CS course is ran like a discussion. The focus is more on the philosophy behind the Free Software movement, spearheaded by characters like Richard Stallman. They'll also look at various OSS licenses and applications. A CS philosophy course. Never would've thought.

Richard Stallman is a computer programmer who started the GNU (GNU's Not Unix) project, which was to create an "free OS" that will run a collection of "free software". So what is free? The idea is very simple. Consider the following:

Say I buy a car from Toyota Corolla (yes, I still believe in Toyota...hope it's not misplaced =P). I then drop in a new engine, lower the frame, install a NOS injection system...Toyota would not stop me. In fact, Toyota might be happy to hear that I've put a lot of TLC and won a few street races. Okay. maybe they wouldn't appreciate THAT, but...I can improve my car, I can customize and personalize it, and they wouldn't care.

Or...say I buy a vacuum cleaner, and I use it. Then my housemate needs to vacuum his room. So I lend it to him. And he use it. GE probably isn't going to care. Probably. I can lend out my Corolla and Toyota wouldn't care.

Yet, I cannot do this with software. I cannot just lend my neighbour my copy of MATLAB or Starcraft without risking getting into trouble. I can't hack Windows Vista in the event there is something super-annoying that I really want to change myself, in the event that Microsoft doesn't want to change it. No, Windows Vista has anti-reverse engineering clause that you agree to when you click "I agree". As a programmer, I can't soup up Vista like I can soup up my Corolla. I can't even lend it to my friend without getting nervous of getting into trouble.

Stallman first encountered this when he was still in school. The company that sold his lab the printer refused to release the printer control program. The previous printer came with open source control program. They modified it as they needed to. They couldn't update the new printer. Shocked at the repression from the printer company, Stallman (an OS programmer) decided to create a new philosophy to oppose the closed software. All computer needs an operating system before it can run software. So he started the GNU project, which eventually grew to Linux. Linux is now in competition with more established OS companies like Microsoft's Windows and Apple's MacOS. A new OS was created to oppose an existing similar system, Unix. In fact, Linux is a combination word between Linus (for Linus Tovalds, the creater of the kernal) and Unix. All in the name of open software and user openness. All in the name of freedom. 

Freedom in Christ
This word, freedom, is one that is often thrown around. As I've understand it, the concept of being "free in Christ" means to be free from sin. That, of course, is only achieved by saving grace. Appropriately, our response is to rise above our natural selves. I often hear...and I myself have said that Christians are different and that it should be seen in our lifestyles. But a criticism I've often heard is...what is the difference between Christian-living, and a non-Christian (but a nice guy)-living? After all, I can think of a few non-Christian friend of mine that live very moral/ethical lives, and are probably a lot nicer than I am.

"So how are you going to be a witness, Jon? What about your living style? How are you different than some random nice guy down the street?" I had no answer, when I was faced with that question, back in first year.

Gradual change
It is often the little things. In class, we talked about how Stallman is so fixed to his visions...even little things like calling the OS GNU/Linux, instead of just Linux, in order to remind people of the "openness" ideals of the project...of how everyone will never fully understand what GNU was intended to achieve, but by making stances on little things, the world slides towards what the vision is intended. Most people probably think Stallman is crazy.

That's how we're suppose to be. We are suppose to slide towards Christ. We'll never reach Christ, but we make every effort. We're suppose to be seen as crazy. A few little life examples stands out in my mind...

Pirating software
I'll admit it. I was very into this. I've never paid for my own copy of Windows. It either came from burnt CDs...or more recently, from the school's MSDN site. I've never paid for my own copy of Office either. Also pirated...or more recently, the license I have is paid for by my lab. It's funny. I never used to care where my software come from. But as I start to perform my own programming (all 6 co-op terms), I gain a better appreciation of software and the time it takes. I can't say I'm perfect, I'm sure I still have something illegal somewhere, or something I've rationalized my way though...but my conscious no longer allows me do something like this without thought.

Bus pass
And I thought I was doing pretty well. All my software is legit now. I stream most of my music, from grooveshark or youtube (I still have all my music, for Fair Use purposes, but I don't really listen to them anymore). I make more effort to buy CDs, because I want to support the artists (NOT because DRM won. Stupid DRM...). Or the studio (I am totally buying Starcraft 2 within the week of release, even if it's ridiculous -_-). And whatnot. So yeah. I'm pretty good. Pretty righteous. But my latest, and probably most convicting experience regarding this topic came recently.

Last week, a bunch of us were scheduled to go watch Iron Man 2. Like a bunch of fan boys, we decided to line up at the threatre and watch it on opening day. So we were coordinating rides when one of my classmate suddenly told me that he needs a ride. What? What happened to your bus pass? Did you lose it? Thew it away? Come on, we've only graduated for like, a week man. But I realized what his response was before he said it. "I don't have a bus pass". He's not a student anymore. He's technically not suppose to use the U-pass anymore.

When I lost my WatCard last year and got a new one, I noted that they updated the expiry date. Cool, I thought to myself. I can take the bus longer. I can "maintain" my student status, even after I'm done. No biggie. A lot of other people are doing it. People who "lose" their cards and get a new one, right before they graduate. Not a big deal.

But it is a big deal. The small deals are big deals. And so I was convicted. One more unquestioned behaviour was questioned. To follow Christ means we have to be different. Rising above the pressures of society. Questioning conventional behaviour. Free from society in order to do what is right. For Stallman and the GNU team, their freedom meant they had to build a OS from scratch. For us, it means we have to do what is right instead of what is popular.

I was talking to another friend about this afterwards. A friend that did what I would've done, using their expired IDs to get on buses. "Sometimes, I wonder if I'm cut out for this Christian thing. Because I know what is 'good' and 'right'...but it is easy to just ignore it." Of course. But that is part of learning and growing. To notice the little things we do. To notice the little things our peers do. To guide, teach and rebuke. I saw a quote in someone's gtalk tag a while ago, and that is the line I quoted for my friend:

Christians are just sinners that get back up.

Without question, we will fail. Moses failed. David failed. Solomon failed. Elijah failed. Peter failed. Paul failed. But they were challenged. And they got back up. And us too.

I've read this verse many, many times, but I now have a better understand what Paul was saying...

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

- 1 Corinthians 10.12-13

Nerdy bling

A few days ago, when I was at Westcourt, I had my USB key hanging around my neck. We were making a joke about the USB being nerdy bling: "yo, check out my 32GB, yo!" (sadly, mine was only 256MB. haha. I'm mildly ashamed. It has served me well over the last 4 years). It reminded me of my actual nerdy bling...

 

My Iron Ring is probably one of the more interesting possession I have. Beyond being a noise maker and something that I play with when I get bored. I was talking to Karen Wong about it. To some, it is just something that came with their degree and lighter wallet. To others, the Ring is a symbol of pride, that they've survived the rigour that is [Waterloo] Engineering. We were instructed to wear the Ring with pride, and most of us do.

 

Of course, the Ring (or the "Calling of the Engineer") itself is similar to the various other ethics/morality pledges and oaths that other professions, in particular the Hippocratic/Nightingale Oath, Lawyer's Oath (and apparently Canadian scientists and MBAs will soon have their own ethics pledges as well). Having read a medical ethics books and lawyer ethics articles, I have some idea of the difficulty of these other profession. In contrast, engineering (although first year Ethics course has done much to scare me) doesn't tend to hold as much of an impact. There probably isn't too much other major engineering ethical concerns. You don't tend to have too much people who can't wait to hand you millions of dollars so you can award a design contract to their company (or any ridiculous TV drama situations). It's usually the little things. In fact, the biggest errors we can make as engineers that can get use sued is probably negligence.

In school, I think one of the biggest danger is to assume that real life is like labs. That life is ideal, or there is a given, correct answer to the problems I face. When I'm still in school, this is called ignorance. In the real world, this is called negligence. Today is the last day of 4B for many of us...but there is still a long ways to go. I think, the process of realizing that there isn't a correct answer to a given answer (rather, only a "best" answer exist) is currently my biggest deterrent at doing better at research and grad school.

Hypocrisy

I read an amusing story the other day, regarding Mahatma Gandhi:

A lady brought her son and said he ate too much sugar. She wanted Gandhi to tell him to stop. Gandhi said to bring the child back the next week. The next week she brought the child and Gandhi said “Stop eating sugar, child”. And the child did.

A month later the lady came back and said “My child has done what you asked, but why could you not have spoken to him the first time I came?”

“Lady”, said Gandhi, “a week earlier I was still eating sugar”.

Elements of encouragement - CCF Sharing Night (W10)

Last official CCF Sharing Night. It has been a short 5 years.

JC (8.00p)

• Places with natural disasters, crying out to help
• Wonder what we as Christians should do
• Personally feels that he should enter higher education
• God doesn’t need you for His glory’s sake, but make use of what you are given
• Keep an eye out for the hunger and the sin. When you’re aware, the burden is very great
• There is a lot of alternative beliefs that causes people to feel self-righteous
• God uses the weak to humble the strong
• God doesn’t need short term missions. People near by needs Christ too

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light

-Matthew 11.30

CY (8.11p)

• We are all unique
• Can be very harsh/judgmental on self and others
• Applied to Optometry, God said no
• Thought about a 4^th year thesis, asked some people about it
• Was told by a TA who remembered him and told him that [the TA] was just thinking of recommending him for the thesis position
• God works in many ways
• Avalon – Stay lyrics

SH (8.18p)

• Have been with CCF for 5 years
• Stick with this family, great to see faces that you recognize continuously
• Continue to be part of this family
• God is funny
• Be specific in your prayers
• Pray that you will be used
• Be bold in all situation, you don’t know what kind of difference you are making in others

DM (8.21p)

• Christianity is not a joke
• Was very good at playing Christian at the appropriate times
• Easy to compromise Christian principle, and live Christianly on the side, instead of upfront
• Non-Christians tends to think that Christianity is easy, but it really isn’t
• God will lead you. Do you believe that He has your best interests in mind
  
  
  Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
  
  
  
  - Philippian 3.12-14
  
  
  
  
  
• Looking back, would you say that you wished that you were bold for God? Don’t want to regret your time here. Want to be able to say to God that you lived for Him, everyday, and that you gave it your all

AE (8.31p)

• Can’t believe that I’m here, the last sharing night
• Search actively and participate in a fellowship
• It’s possible to be in a fellowship but not really. Have to connect with people and make it your home. Don’t settle with shallow conversations
• University is hard. A lot of different opinions around you. Need to have a foundation, that you can come back to.

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:

If one falls down, his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

- Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

• Exchange to Singapore: first time was away from any spiritual home
• Very hard to live Christianly without any support. Get Christian support, so you don’t falter easy. Chord of 3 strands is not easily broken
• DG is pretty good. Get into one

MN (8.39p)

• Money management and tithing
• What happens when you set goals and reaches it?
• Seems meaningless without God. Materialistic-based goals tends to feel useless, at the end of the day

JC (video)

• Didn’t get into optometry in third year
• Came back for fourth year, got to do frosh cell and various servings
• Life is like a video game. You don’t know what’s coming up. There’s a lot more to level up in
• Realized that he needed to know more, to hunger more for God. Can’t hide real hunger of God from the world

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

- 1 John 3:18-20

• If it’s in His will, it will be done

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

So we say with confidence,
"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?"

- Hebrews 13.5-6

JN (9.19p)

• Motivation and goals

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

- Hebrews 12.2

• Very important to be able to preach the Gospel to yourself every day. Reflect and remember what Jesus did.
• Jesus was suffering and stressed and scared, and was fully human, but kept on going because His goal, His love for us
• Matthew 13 – Are you giving up everything to focus on God?
• Keep the Gospel central. Don’t lose sight of it
• Weak without God

M (9.24p)

• Relationship with people (ie parents) have been getting better
• Once started working, become more appreciative of parents
• Gotten closer to CCF also, thanks to DG
• Only have a certain amount of time, so spend it with people that would better you

EW (9.29p)

• A year or so ago, I noticed that every time I hit a low, it was very sucky
• What to do in these situations?
• Was essentially living by herself in Hamilton
• How could her, a Committee member, be going through such hard times? Whereas hearing about how God is working awesomely through people
• Who is God to us? Do we really believe that God is love, peace, salvation and comfort?
• How do we live that out? Remember that there will be good and bad times
• If you are seeking out God daily, there is no doubt that He will meet you, because He has promised you
• If you believe that God died for you, then you have no excuse not to worship in all situations

VN (9.35p)

• Want to say thank you to CCF
• Has been a blessing

KC (9.36p)

• CCF has been great
• Learn to live uncomfortably. We are challenged to do so as Christians. Look to Moses or Gideon; they didn’t want to do what they were called to do, but as we know, God led them to do great things. Talk to people. Expand out of your circle

CM (9.38p)

• Spiritual high from fall retreat -> but crashed afterwards
• Love you God, love your neighbor
• Tend to judge a lot
• Romans 2 – Only God can judge
• Not just about loving strangers. It’s much harder to love the people you know and don’t like

JC (9.45p)

• Give up frustrating things up to God
• Strive to not complain. Learn to see the good and the bad. God teaches us many lessons through these things.
• “A person who is all smiles is most beautiful”
• God has a plan for you. Whatever path you take, He has a way to make it beautiful

AM (9.48p)

We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies.

- 2 Thessalonians 3:11

• Praying is important. Think about your parents and their constant prayer for you
• Enjoy time with your parents. They won’t be around forever. Get to know them.

MW J. (9.53p)

• Know that he has changed, but not sure what caused it
• Theme of WR: Actively live out your faith
• Was happy that WR was set so early -> set the stage for the term
• Being challenged about discipline
• What does it mean to live out your faith on your day-to-day life
• Didn’t feel connected with what he was reading in the Bible
• Forcing time to spend time with the Lord in prayer and what not made him feel better
• Was changed. Wasn’t instantaneous. A little every day.
• Whatever you shift up over God becomes your idle

JL (10.37p)

• Remember Lifesong, CCF is capable of some pretty awesome things
• Failing 3B
• Sucks to fail a term
• Left behind
• Don’t give up, no matter how bad things got
• In desperation, God is always there
• But somehow avoided the recession
• Failure comes at us from all directions
• In success, we might forget about God. Don’t forget God
• CCF Theme Song

W (10.50p)

• Got oil anointing at Urbana
• Thought about doing ministry work, but under parental influence, entered engineering
• Felt like he betrayed God, but was told that it’s okay
• What God really wants is a response. Here I am, send me
• Prayed for signs regarding a girl and got them
• Started going out with the girl, but they broke up because she wanted to focus on God
• Burned out after that, but learned and grew
• Our ultimate test: praising Him even in the hard times. Especially in the hard times
• Psalms 42 – verses of encouragement

AT (11.06p)

• Pray to be broken down and reconstructed again
• Voddie Baucham: Brokenness is necessary in the Christian life. Brokenness is when you realize that you need God
• CTI: Going to Asia

M (11.09p)

• Had a close Christian brother who fell away from each other
• Conflicts, misunderstanding
• Move to solve conflicts. Don’t ignore them
• Didn’t feel good, but started meeting with him regularly. Felt fake at first, but got better with more and more sharing
• DG was helpful and supportive
• God is good and faithful, and grants amazing joy
• James 1

SD (11.18pm)

• Isaiah 40
• Easy to lose focus of how great God is
• Get too caught up in thinking that God is our friend and whatnot, and not that He is the Judge of the universe
• Everything in this university emits light, reflects light or only absorbs light. God is the emitter. What are we?
• Had issues with girlfriend -> prayed and lifted it to God -> realized that it doesn’t really matter, and seemed very small once put into perspectives with God

ML (11.26p)

• Went into ER, due to chest pains -> panic attack -> faints
• Doctors don’t know what the problem is
• Withdraw from the term? What should she do? Doesn’t know -> praying about it
• Thank you for the support
  

JT (11.36p)

• In 1B, wanted to keep scholarship, but got sick during exams
• Westcourt (Bily, Jon Lo and Jorge) took care of them over the time period -> felt community
• This led to him doing the same when he took over Westcourt
• Matthew 25.31-46 – Sheep and goats
• If I have inspired you with any sort of caring, carry on the same thing

RB (11.41p)

• Nothing really epic, except for FF13. And DG, I guess
• Verses against complaining -> but how much of what we talk about is complaints?
• Complains about doing very little at work, but really should feel to be thankful, since she actually has work
• Stop complaining for a day and see what difference that would make

SH (11.45p)

• God brings you though many things
• WR was a highlight, serving with the worship team -> was intense
• Recognizing that Christians don’t have it all together necessarily
• Expanded out of comfort zone -> led a Bible study group
• But started thinking about worries and difficulties and past failures
• Didn’t feel that he can lead properly -> Exodus 3 (Calling of Moses)

A (12.04a)

• Don’t sit around and do nothing
• Realized how much God blesses us, amazing opportunities

T (12.06a)

• At WR, realized that this is a special group -> feel that they really care about God
• Thought about the Tower of Babel...if unity of people who didn’t care about God could cause God to worry, what would a united Christian group be able to do?

JK (12.09a)

• Upperyears serving is inspiring -> felt love received from them
• What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?

JL (12.10a)

• God loves this fellowship, and God shows His love through this fellowship
• Just tonight, there was many examples and stories shared that backs that up
• How should we respond to a faithful God?
• Back in the day, his dad’s Winnipeg CCF has the Christian Soldier car (only goes forward)
• As a Christian, there is only one direction to go, and that is forward
• God will continue to work as long as you continue to seek Him
• Be strong. Be courageous. Go forward

SC (12.22a)

• Haven’t been doing so well this term, about academics, parents and emotionally
• Don’t know where she is being led, even though she used to be really good at hearing God
• Usually, a lot of people around you are going through similar things that you are. Even if there isn’t, God understands
• Seek God in prayer and worship and sermons
• Thankful for sisters that she can be transparent with
• Romans 8.28-39 – even in hardship, God is working
• He who began good work will bring it to completion

MMC (12.35a)

• Struggling with “love the Lord with all your heart, with all your strength, with all your might”
• When you act in love, the other person can feel it
• Are you really giving your all to God? Are you really focused on Him?
• If He asks you if He is everything, and you reply with “uhh...maybe”, then you’re not doing it
• If you truly understand God’s love, then your answer wouldn’t just be “uhh maybe”

AW (12.42a)

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

- Hebrews 12.7-11

• This life isn’t about you
• Sometimes wish that we only have to learn lessons once and be done with it
• Put all your efforts into eliminating sin, or else it will eliminate you

KW (12.47a)

• Talking about worship at Westcourt
• Is reading the Bible or praying during musical worship still worship? Yes, of course
• What about having normal music mixed in with worship songs?
• Are you only a Sunday Christian? That’s just a foolish sacrifice
• Do you only sing because everyone else is?
• When you are worshiping, are you only thinking about God? What is worship? Who are you worshiping?

MW (12.52a)

• What God do you worship? How well do you know Him?
• Do you praise Him in both your highs and lows? When you have nothing else, would you still hold onto God?
• Job: The Lord gives and the Lord takes away
• If you lost everything, would you still onto God? Do you worship a God that serves you? Or do you worship a God that is glorified in everything?

JH (12.57a)

• Thought she had a solid foundation, but faltered totally after coming to university
• Felt that she conformed to the world -> too ashamed to stand before God
• Other people who saw her do these things questioned her Christianity
• Urbana showed that she was being a passive Christian
• Parents are quite a blessing -> new years resolution is to honour your parents more
• If you love your parents, let them know
• Look past little personal things and don’t be selfish
• Don’t lose sight with who is the slave and who is the Master
• Prayer is important. Need to pray with faith
• Ecclesiastes 5.2 – Let your words be few

HL (1.08a)

• After reading the Gospels, you Act it out
• CCF in the 1980s: they had 300+ members, with Saturday preaching fellowships. CCF is declining, and the older generation (previous CCF generations) was not happy
• Forgave the people (prof/coordinator) who failed them in first year
• Last year at Food Cell, no one showed up. Was asked, why do you serve? It is a thankless job, and suppose to be. It is not about us. It is about God
• Pray for everything
• If God is for us, who can be against us?

PC (1.20a)

• More detailed post, found here
• Double check everything with Scripture

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

- 1 John 2.15-17

• A worldly tone has been set in the Christian environment
• Christians are suppose to be set apart and different from the people around them (Deuteronomy 4.1-14)
• But Israel failed to be set apart
• Are we just doing the same type of things as non-Christians are? Are we different?
• A newcomer to CCF: “members of CCF can be seen plastered all over Facebook, acting like drunkards, players and sluts”
• “In the world, not of world” -> Daniel stood apart, even though he was in a foreign environment
• The only real difference between now and the past is that their idols are physical and ours are not
• What you take in, watch, think about (you are what you eat)...maybe that’s why our prayer life is in shambles
• Don’t justify sin. The stuff taught in the Bible is not optional
• “Are we Christians?”

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

- 2 Corinthians 13.5

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

- Galatian 6.14

• Has your faith cost you anything? Reputation? Etc. It should be.
• What are the fruits you are producing?

Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

- Matthew 7.21

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

- Matthew 7.13-14

JQ (1.39a)

• CCF has been transforming
• As eldest in the family, takes on the role of the duty achievers
• Doing little things doesn’t really matter. What is your motivation?
• Why do you do devotions?
• Do we focus too much on logistics and the event?
• Aim to grow into the likeness of Christ
• Invest in people
• Be sensitive to the Spirit
• Life is tough. Learn to rejoice.

Thoughts

Haaa. A going rate of 1 post/month. Sighs. School has been time consuming, to say the least. A few quick thoughts about Jesus, before I run off to CIVE460.

What is the difference between Jesus-minded and being Christianly-minded?

Theoretically, it should be the same thing. But as I realize more and more, there are a lot of confusion about Christians. But only a handful of thoughts about Jesus. You either think He's God...or He's crazy. Even historians thinks He existed. I've been encouraged to think more about Christ-ly things and less about Christianly things.

It is very hard to tell the difference between the church (man's implementation) and the Church (how it should be). But what people see is the church. They're not reading our book to tell us why we're screwing up. WE have to read our book and tell us why we're screwing up.

Matthew 7

I recently heard a sermon on Matthew 7. It wasn't anything new. I know very well there is a chance that I will stand before Him and be told "be gone". The passage into Heaven is not a right. It is a privledge. A privledge that is decided by Christ alone. You don't argue with Christ about passage into a sinless realm unless, of course, you are also sinless. But I'm not, so at Christ's mercy I must stand. The sermon surprised me not because the pastor told the audience that Matt 7 is a hard passage...but because he said many people feel that Christianity is about praying the prayer once, and go on with their lives as if nothing has happened.

Now...an encounter with the Spirit isn't something I can say that has happened too much with me. Certainly nothing dramatic, like running into a logging truck. But wouldn't common sense itself tell you that a life-changing event like conversion into another faith would have to change more than...nothing? That was upsetting to hear.

Reading the Bible

It's one of those things where "oh, I know I should do more" but don't. I've been there. I'm still there. I'm a student. Life is busy. We're always on a rush. But if we call ourselves scientists, and take pride in our understanding of organic chemistry, human physiology and quantum physics...if we call ourselves mathematicians (even applied ones!) and take pride in our ability to integrate over fields and complex planes...if we call ourselves [insert 'anime-watcher', 'chef', 'board-game player'] and am proud of our abilities and knowledge...why is it that we care so little about the Word?

I once attempted to read through the Bible cover-to-cover. I got through about 2/5 of the OT. I can assure you that the OT isn't just a collection of dusty old laws. It is an epic about how God pushes people to certain places, to do certain things. It is about God moving in lives of ordinary people (trust me, Moses was super-ordinary), to do big things. Yes, it is sometimes hard to relate directly, due to cultural differences...but we can be encouraged by their testimonies too. I've started again. Somewhere in Lev. Don't steal sheep, guys. You'll have to pay back an extra sheep.

Where is God in my life

I often ask that. When I'm scurrying around from class to class, meeting deadlines after deadlines. Trying to get all the logistics to work together and talk to all the people I need to talk to...it's often easy to lose track of ourselves. This is what you can do:

1) Take some breaks. Strangely, I now find grocery shopping and dish washing relaxing. Maybe it's cuz it's away from my eternally-on LCD monitor, and my "Gmail (1)" window.

2) I was once challenged with..."instead of asking that, why don't you ask, 'where am I in God's plans'"? Shift the focus off of us, and onto God. I'll pull from a Relient K song, and say that changing perspectives can change much.